HALCYON DAYS IN SUSSEX - part one -

For the third visit to Sheila in West Sussex, we were as lucky with the weather as usual.
Although the weather forecast announced heavy rain, we had only a few showers in the evening.
We were really excited to discover Sheila's new home. The precedent was beautiful with the ponds and the little river Cuckmere flowing through the estate before pursuing its way to the see, but when we arrived at the drive which led to Parklands, we were speechless with enchantment.

The estate of Parklands is beautifully set in a park (as the name remembers), planted in eighteen century, which stretched unto the meadows and the woods. The view is splendid. Two ponds with narcissus, Huge rhododendrons, maple trees, ornamental Peachtrees all blooming, Cedar, Giant Thuyas.... meadows with wild yellows primroses and bluebells, everything was like a dream.

 the big pond in the wild part of the park

the little pond with narcissus and ivy, but the frogs are gone because of the hard winter

the apple orchard behind the House

view from the park

the kitchen terrace and the blue cedar with wisteria climbing at the top of it.

view from the kitchen terrace

The house itself was built in the late eighteen century and is now divided in four luxurious flats.

Sheila was very lucky to find it and bought the one which is the best situated, south, south-west, 

and occupies the two thirds of the rez-de-chaussée, with a wonderful terrace in front of the kitchen and others along the dining room and the study, that provides a gorgeous view on the Park and woods. Nice iron doors allow to go in the park and protect the intimacy of Sheila's home. The Park is in  common property with the three other owners of the estate of Parklands and very well kept by a gardener.

a visit by the ladycat Pamela

a place to read and hear the birds songs

the pond

the huge rhododendrons

view from the drawing room

wild primroses 

in the orchard

another sheltered place to enjoy the sunset and the aperitif in the evening

Each evening we were very amused with the plays of  the rabbits families that appeared suddenly from the woods to enjoy the meadow and have their dinner. Sheila was less pleased because they do a lot of damages to the garden, coming through the iron doors and nibling at her flowers which are more tasty than grass.